It’s early morning and that Central Highlands chill hangs in the air. We’re on motorbikes and the wind is whistling past our ears. Below are the lush agricultural valleys surrounding Dalat, above are sparse Alpine fur forests and in front winds route 275, meandering its way down into the valleys below.

It’s been a tumultuous year and as we write, the frenzy of unpredictability continues apace. Wall Street has reached its lowest level in five years, the Asian stock markets are in free fall and to save its banking system, Iceland has been granted a US$2.1billion loan by the IMF, the first developed country to receive such assistance in over 30 years. Panic is in the air and for anyone who thinks the crisis has reached its nadir, think again. There’s more to come.

Forty-eight-years-ago a young Austrian dusted off the squat rack at his local gym and began a career in bodybuilding. The hobby turned into a passion and the bodybuilder soon reached the apex of the sport, winning multiple titles. The athletic success garnered him roles in Hollywood movies, multi-million-dollar business opportunities and countless fans. Today, we know this man as “The Governator”.

What a year 2008 was. It went from boom to bust with much to commend it in between. As people could be heard saying in September and October when the world's financial system started its collapse,"This is history in the making."

Old timers, veterans or just first to spot the opportunity, Othello Khanh and Michele de Albert’s 15 years in Vietnam have been all about renewal. Their latest project, the relocation of Gaya, is another milestone in the journey.